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Bill Withers — Lean on Me
Album: Best of
Avg rating:
8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1917









Released: 1972
Length: 4:15
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please, swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load
You have to bear that you can't carry
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
If you just call me

Call me (If you need a friend)
Call me (Call me uh-huh)
Call me (When you need a friend)
Call me (If you ever need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (If you need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me
Comments (61)add comment
I was 17yrs old when this came out and this just wasn't my kind of music.  Now that I am old and senile, I really like it!  GREAT TUNE!
Posted 1 month ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
There are times my friends when we really do need someone to lean on and may there always be that someone.
Posted 1 year ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
I bought my 1959 Selmer tenor sax (still made in Paris) with a college student loan (when you could still do it),  because I heard his "Just the Two of Us" song, with the tenor part being played by Grover Washington Jr.
Posted 1 year ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Back when R&B was about smooth jazz sounds, vocal harmonies, and love.  WTF happened to that genre?  It's like it went completely off the rails about 20-30 years ago and started going into some really awful places.
Posted 1 year ago by timmus    [ Reply ]
 ch83575 wrote:

My mom sent me to piano lessons when I was a child.  To this day, this is the only thing I can play on the piano... and poorly at that.  Sorry Mom...


  For me it was Good King Wenceslas. 
Posted 1 year ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 NickDanger wrote:

Spring of '72 and this song was in rotation on AM. Still an excellent song.
Damn. That was 46 years ago. Damn. 



Now it is almost 51 years ago..... time flies
Posted 1 year ago by nu11    [ Reply ]
 kazoo wrote:

Has anybody ever seen a photo of Withers where he is not smiling? It strikes me that he was a happy person.




Damn Happy!!!! Totally!!!!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
I can not understand why there are so few Bill Withers songs on RP!? 
Posted 2 years ago by david16    [ Reply ]
50 years later and this song still resonates, maybe even more so today
Posted 2 years ago by Johnny-smooth    [ Reply ]
Any other choir nerds fight the urge to shout "five" in the pause between "for" and "it won't be long" or was that just a local thing? 
Posted 3 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
Has anybody ever seen a photo of Withers where he is not smiling? It strikes me that he was a happy person.
Posted 3 years ago by kazoo    [ Reply ]
We’ll never know how many people were rescued by this song
Posted 3 years ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
Universal.  Human.
Posted 3 years ago by aonley    [ Reply ]
We need so much of that right now.

 hayduke2 wrote:
each and every time I hear Bill Withers start this song I'm spiritually onboard its timeless and subtle power

it contains love 
 

Posted 4 years ago by laramieu    [ Reply ]
I don't know if there's a God or not, but Bill Withers gave us a glimpse of something special.
c.
Posted 4 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
 punkermal wrote:
Good song but played to death. Played so much that it now just reminds me of black and white tv.
 
Fair, but black and white TV isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'll give you Dobie Gillis and My Three Sons being dumb and bad, but Bewitched and I Love Lucy were cornerstones. Just like this song is a cornerstone, even though it's about as cliché as Bewitched at this point.
Posted 4 years ago by acolt    [ Reply ]
So simple.  So good.
Posted 4 years ago by Greenman    [ Reply ]
These go to 11.
Posted 4 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
RIP, Mr. Withers.
Posted 4 years ago by Ipse_Dixit    [ Reply ]
That vibrato...
Posted 5 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
Spring of '72 and this song was in rotation on AM. Still an excellent song.
Damn. That was 46 years ago. Damn. 
Posted 6 years ago by NickDanger    [ Reply ]
My mom sent me to piano lessons when I was a child.  To this day, this is the only thing I can play on the piano... and poorly at that.  Sorry Mom...
Posted 7 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
sublime
Posted 8 years ago by Shotoverplain    [ Reply ]
Good song but played to death. Played so much that it now just reminds me of black and white tv.
Posted 8 years ago by punkermal    [ Reply ]
Somehow, I had only ever heard the Club Nouveau version before.
Posted 8 years ago by DocGuy    [ Reply ]
each and every time I hear Bill Withers start this song I'm spiritually onboard its timeless and subtle power

it contains love 
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
lovely and classic and a song about how to live a good and fruitful life, as opposed to songs examining the life mistakes we make that wither (no pun intended) the fruit. 

 
Preach on mate.
Posted 8 years ago by izycrzy    [ Reply ]
Anything by Bill Withers is automatically > 8! 
Posted 8 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
A song you can identify from the first chord.  To me this song always started out ponderous, picked up a bit in the subsequent verses and had a great chorus.
Posted 8 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
Was watching the movie Lean on Me last night... and waiting to hear the song (but didn't - probably because I didn't finish the movie).

So happy to hear it now!  Thanks! 
Posted 8 years ago by gratefulgator    [ Reply ]
Just flawless. Sublime. Warms my soul with every listen. 
Posted 9 years ago by Padutarb    [ Reply ]
lovely and classic and a song about how to live a good and fruitful life, as opposed to songs examining the life mistakes we make that wither (no pun intended) the fruit. 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 calle01 wrote:
 I really hate this artist! HATE is a strong word but doesn't seem to stop Bill from playing crap?

 
Poor you!
Well, after noticing that 65% of your votes are "1 Sucko-barfo", I'm not that surprised anymore.
I think it's high time you went and got to listen to other radios.
Hope you like commercials, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, .... I guess you do.
Posted 10 years ago by CoYoT51    [ Reply ]
I started as a dj when I was 15. We used to play local schools and parties and there was always a smootchy section for a bit of slow dancing. . . which was basically the opportunity for blokes to grope girls if they were brave enough to ask a girl for a dance. The girls would usually dance together is not asked for a dance (is that still how it works? I can't say I have been to many discos lately).

Anyway. . . I used to play this track a lot then, so it brings back a whole host of memories of good times both behind and in front of the decks. 

That is all :) 
Posted 10 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Used to hate it, but now think it's one of the best things ever.

Same as 'lovely day'. Really played to death and cheesy, but somehow, it still sounds good.
Posted 10 years ago by richlister    [ Reply ]
However its a well worn groove. Ill bet this artist had other good tracks. 
Posted 11 years ago by kz1300a1    [ Reply ]
the tears are streaming down my cheeks, and I love evrything about this magnificent piece of music!  Joy
Posted 11 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Really is a great song. But I really hate it. Can't listen to it anymore, too many terrible associations.
Posted 11 years ago by milleronic    [ Reply ]
I am with you Bill.
I never seem to tire of this song either & have heard it many many times.
A classic.
Posted 11 years ago by number7    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The original is the best - all other versions of this song just leave me cold, but I'll happily listen to this one. Thanks, RP.
 

We miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this classic song...
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Every now and again, hearing this song reminds me of that anti-drug film "Dead Is Dead" we were forced to watch back in junior high.  Must have been about 1982-83 — 30 years later, can't believe I can still recall!  It was pretty intense, especially the scene of a woman puking while "Lean on Me" played....  I guess I am not the only one with memories of it, there's a forum here posted in Aug 2011 and here.  I am surprised to see it is only 21 minutes long — makes quite an impact.
Posted 12 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
Smile
 
I might not answer, however

Posted 12 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}{#Notworthy}

Greetings from London.

www.cubaninlondon.blogspot.com

Posted 12 years ago by cubaninlondon    [ Reply ]
Yes! You just call on me....we all need somebody to lean on. Amen.
Posted 12 years ago by bluecshells    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The original is the best - all other versions of this song just leave me cold, but I'll happily listen to this one. Thanks, RP.
  There is no other voice like Bill's. Perfect.


Posted 13 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  The original is the best - all other versions of this song just leave me cold, but I'll happily listen to this one. Thanks, RP.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 scraig wrote:
The most overplayed funeral song...ever.
 
ha
probably true... 

Or on a mix CD titled "songs to drink to"
Posted 13 years ago by coding_to_music    [ Reply ]
So thankful this is the real Bill Withers version, and not the Club Nouveau version that bedeviled every one of my high school dances.
Posted 13 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
...this is nice to hear in the mix...
Posted 13 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
{#Meditate}
Posted 13 years ago by SuzG    [ Reply ]

The Great Bill Withers! Reminds me of simpler times, growing up in the 70s. Sweet.


Posted 13 years ago by katiediddler    [ Reply ]
The most overplayed funeral song...ever.
Posted 13 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Classic music, classic lyrics, classic message.
Posted 13 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
slurpy wrote:
Withers is a classic. Any chance of hearing "Ain't No Sunshine" which is even better. Thanks.
AMEN to that! "Ain't No Sunshine" is on here, so I'd ask people to request it, if they want to hear it.
Posted 16 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
:nodhead: A little soul shouldn't hurt anyone.
Posted 21 years ago by rgj13    [ Reply ]
Platypus wrote:
:-&
Posted 21 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Posted 21 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
If you need a friend ;)
Posted 21 years ago by BQHsMom    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by slurpy: Withers is a classic. Any chance of hearing "Ain't No Sunshine" which is even better. Thanks.
Agreed!
Posted 21 years ago by Pipes    [ Reply ]